Rajeev Chandrasekhar Faces Legal Storm As Kochi Police Registers Hate Speech Case

In a recent development, a case has been registered against Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar by the police for alleged hate speech on social media, with charges under IPC sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riots) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups) being filed against him.

Reports indicate that the Kerala police have received complaints from various sources, including the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), concerning the Union Minister's social media posts on the Kalamassery blasts.

Following the blasts, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar's comments linking the incident to Palestine and accusing the Kerala government of supporting Hamas have sparked criticism from both sides. During post-blast cyber patrolling, police identified over 200 social media posts, including Chandrasekhar's, spreading hatred, with nearly 18 people booked for hate speech.

Amid a three-day prayer meeting at Kalamassery's international convention center, a tragic incident unfolded, leaving three individuals dead and more than 50 injured. Union Minister Chandrasekhar took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the event, accusing the state government of supporting "Terrorist Jihad," which he claimed led to the attack on innocent Christians. Later on, Dominic Martin, a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses, surrendered himself at Kodakara Police Station in Thrissur district.

While not mentioning the minister by name, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly criticized the remarks, finding them misleading and communal. He viewed this as a biased agenda targeting a specific community and questioned the basis for such statements.

Prior to Dominic Martin's confession, Chandrasekhar had claimed the blast occurred 24 hours after the LDF government approved an event featuring a Hamas leader inciting violence against non-believers. The Kerala Chief Minister asserted that legal action would be taken against all communal statements, be they from anonymous individuals on social media or union ministers.